Toy therapy

[Taro Toporific]

Toy [robot] dogs said to have healing properties Kyodo / Oct 24
SHIZUOKA, Japan, --Takayuki Kumasaka of the University of Shizuoka is a leading proponent of the use of toy animals in "animal therapy" to produce healing effects in patients in hospitals and people in nursing homes.....
Kumasaka is particular about utilizing robots and toys because real animals could carry infectious diseases or cause injuries or accidents.

[Taro Toporific]

Toy [robot] dogs said to have healing properties Kyodo / Oct 24

Further description of the research from today's Japan Times, Oct 28
...his research, he introduced a robotic seal named Palo to the pediatrics ward of Tsukuba University hospital three years ago and confirmed its soothing effect on hospitalized children.

He conducted animal therapy in late August to find a similar result on the elderly using a 5,900 yen "welfare toy" dubbed Otomodachikku Wanchan (Friendly Dog).

"Children were able to gain healing effects from the robot, which looked a bit like the Aibo robot," he said, referring to Sony Corp.'s robot dog.

Wanchan is a puppy toy operated by dry cell batteries. It is soft to the touch, easy to manipulate and rich in expressions.

[Taro Toporific]

Meet Paro, the therapeutic robot seal

YIKES! Is that a Rimba Electro in Paro-chan's mouth?

[GargoyleTS]

That's right folks, now you can practise the ancient art of clubbing baby seals right in the comfort of your own igloo!

[Taro Toporific]

[floatl][/floatl]
Japanese robot to chat lonely elderly out of senility
TOKYO (AFP) Dec 1 - -Japan's growing elderly population from will be able to buy companionship ...Snuggling Ifbot, who is dressed in an astronaut suit with a glowing face, has the conversation ability of a five-year-old, the language level needed to stimulate the brains of senior citizens...more...

[AssKissinger]

Jesus that's depressing. Not to mention it could put me out of a job

While for now Snuggling Ifbot speaks only Japanese, its makers plan to program the robot in English -- not for export, but to teach the language to Japanese children.

[Mike Oxlong]

...is higher than many FG! Watch out Roppongi!! Our poon may soon belong to the Snugglin' Ifbot's tang

[djgizmoe]

...is higher than many FG! Watch out Roppongi!! Our poon may soon belong to the Snugglin' Ifbot's tang

How true is that...But will Ifbot be able to stay in Gas Panic without drinking?

[goldenboy_ge]

Senile snuggling robot lol I'm more interested in that girl on the left rather on that robo actually.

.....has the conversation ability of a five-year-old, the language level needed to stimulate the brains of senior citizens..... <---hmmm.... better stick with a parrot then

[Mulboyne]

BBC: Japan's hi-tech carers
Seventy-eight-year-old widow, Akino Okano, is lonely. In Japan, the average woman lives to 85, seven years beyond the average man. From the age of 22, Akino lived with her husband's parents and 11 other members of his family. But they have all died or moved away and she now lives in an enormous farmhouse on her own...To help combat the loneliness of longevity - and in true Japanese style - the country has turned to technology for guidance...more...

[kurohinge1]

[Taro Toporific]

[Greji]

Yes, yes. That's all very touching.
But can it ride a camel?

Camel's are difficult a difficult mount, but now you take a camel toe and I have excellent riding form.

[Taro Toporific]

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Japanese therapeutic robots to be employed in Denmark

The Danish Technological Institute will introduce therapeutic robotic seals developed in Japan at about 40 welfare facilities for the aged in Denmark by the end of this year, the DTI said. This will be the first full-scale introduction of robot therapy overseas using Japanese high technology. The institute said it planned to expand use of the Paro robots to about 500 locations by 2010. The manufacture and marketing of the Paro, which was developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), was launched in 2005. So far, about 1,000 Paro robots have been produced. Individual consumers have purchased the robot as a pet, while homes for elderly people have introduced the robot for therapeutic purposes. Western countries widely practice animal-assisted therapy for elderly people suffering dementia. The DTI also began experiments last year to determine whether the Paro offers similar effects. After learning that patients with dementia feel comfortable and show expressive faces when they are with the Paro, the DTI decided to introduce the robot in Denmark. The DTI and the AIST plan to jointly study effective therapy modality using Paro, and collect data expected to be useful in care of the elderly.